Dianthus plant named ‘KLEDG14177’

ABSTRACT

A new  dianthus  plant named ‘KLEDG14177’ particularly distinguished by dark purple flowers with a dark center, small, dark green to blue leaves, and very good branching, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Dianthus sp.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEDG14177’.

BACKGROUND

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Dianthus,botanically known as Dianthus sp. and hereinafter referred to by thevariety name ‘KLEDG14177’. ‘KLEDG14177’ is a selection that resultedfrom a cross pollination of the proprietary female dianthus line ‘DSS2009 0513’ (unpatented) and the male dianthus line ‘DSS 2008 0003’(unpatented).

In August 2010 the proprietary female dianthus line ‘DSS 2009 0513’ andthe proprietary male dianthus line ‘DSS 2008 0003’ were cross pollinatedin Stuttgart, Germany and seeds were obtained. The seeds were sown andplants were grown for evaluation. A plant line was selected in June 2011in Stuttgart, Germany, and named ‘KLEDG14177’. In June 2011,‘KLEDG14177’ was first vegetatively propagated by vegetative cuttings.‘KLEDG14177’ was found to reproduce true to type in successivegenerations of asexual propagation via vegetative cuttings in Stuttgart,Germany.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. Dark purple flowers with a dark center;    -   2. Small, dark green to blue leaves; and    -   3. Very good branching.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Dianthus plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph,which shows the overall plant habit of the variety ‘KLEDG14177’ grown ina pot. The photograph is of a 10 to 12 week old plant in Stuttgart,Germany under greenhouse conditions in May 2013. The colors shown are astrue as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographicprocedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLEDG14177’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inStuttgart, Germany. Data was collected on four month old plants grown ina glass greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany in March, 2014. Colorreferences are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal HorticulturalSociety of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition.

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Caryophyllaceae.        -   Species.—Dianthus sp.        -   Common name.—Garden carnation.        -   Type.—Spray type carnation.        -   Parentage.—Female: Proprietary dianthus line ‘DSS 2009            0513’. Male: Proprietary dianthus line ‘DSS 2008 0003’.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Vegetative stem cuttings.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 20 days.        -   Root description.—White, small, well-branched.        -   Rooting habit.—Lanceolate.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form.—Bushy, potted and garden plant.        -   Plant height.—10.0 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—18.0 cm.-   Lateral branches:    -   -   Stem.—Solid.        -   Length.—6.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.5 cm.        -   Number of internodes per stem.—3 to 4.        -   Internode length.—0.6 cm.        -   Node length.—0.3 cm.        -   Node diameter.—0.3 cm.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—RHS 137B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Length.—5.0 cm.        -   Width.—0.2 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Upper and lower surfaces: Smooth.        -   Color.—Immature and mature leaves: Upper surface: RHS 137B.            Lower surface: RHS 137C.        -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.        -   Venation.—RHS 137D.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single, round.        -   Flower position.—Slightly above the foliage.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Natural flowering season.—Spring to autumn.        -   Flower longevity.—6 to 8 days.        -   Number of flowers per spray.—3 to 4.        -   Flower buds.—Length: 1.8 cm. Diameter: 0.5 cm. Shape: Tall            cylinder to cylindrical. Color: RHS 137C. Extrusion of the            styles at bud stage: Absent.        -   Corolla.—Quantity of petals/arrangement: 5, round. Corolla            height: 0.5 cm. Petal length: 3.0 cm. Petal width: 1.4 cm.            Petal shape: V-shaped. Petal apex: Obtuse. Petal base:            Cuspidate. Petal margin: Serrate, depth is medium. Petal            texture: Upper and lower surfaces: Smooth. Petal color:            Immature: Upper surface: Main color is RHS N74A and the            secondary color in the eye is RHS 64A. Lower surface: RHS            N74C. Mature: Upper surface: Main color is RHS N74A and the            secondary color in the eye is RHS 61A. Lower surface: RHS            N74C. Calyx: Quantity of sepals/arrangement: 5, single.            Calyx height: 2.0 cm. Calyx diameter, at the apex: 0.5 cm.            Shape: Campanulate. Sepal apex shape: Acute. Sepal texture:            Upper and lower surfaces: Smooth. Sepal color: Upper            surface: RHS 137C. Lower surface: RHS 137D. Epicalyx:            Position of the outer lobes in relation to the calyx:            adpressed. Apex shape of inner and outer lobes: Acute.            Length: 0.7 cm.-   Peduncles:    -   -   Length.—6.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.0 cm.        -   Strength.—Moderate.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—RHS 136B.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: Greater than 5. Filament length: 1.0 cm.            Filament color: RHS 75C. Anther length: 0.15 cm. Anther            diameter: 0.08 cm. Anther color: RHS 75B. Pollen amount:            Moderate.        -   Pistils.—Quantity: 1. Pistil length: 0.8 cm. Style length:            0.1 cm. Style color: RHS 76D. Stigma shape: Filamentous.            Stigma color: RHS 72A. Ovary size: 0.4 cm. Ovary shape:            Ovate. Ovary color: RHS 139D. Ovary texture: Smooth.            Fruits/seeds: None observed.-   Disease and insect/pest resistance: No special observations were    made.

COMPARISON OF WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

When ‘KLEDG14177’ is compared to the female and male parental lines, thefollowing differences are noted in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Variety Female parent Male ParentTrait ‘KLEDG14177’ ‘DSS 2009 0513’ ‘DSS 2008 0003’ Flower color Darkpurple with Lilac White a dark center Branching Very good Good Lessbranching

When ‘KLEGD14177’ is compared to the commercial line ‘Kahori’ (patentstatus unknown), the following differences are noted in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Variety Commercial line Trait‘KLEDG14177’ ‘Kahori’ Flower color Dark purple with a dark center Purpleand blue Color of foliage Dark green to blue Green Size of leaves SmallMedium

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Dianthus plant named‘KLEDG14177’ as illustrated and described herein.